Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Okeng’o Matiang’i has paid his respects to the family of the late former Lugari MP and businessman Cyrus Jirongo.
‘Matiang’i joins a growing list of prominent leaders who have condoled with the family following veteran politician Cyrus Jirongo sudden death in a tragic road accident.
Matiang’i, who has recently been active in political consultations across the country, described Jirongo’s passing as a “profound shock and a great loss to the nation.”
In a statement, he praised Jirongo’s decades-long contribution to Kenya’s democratization, calling him a “steadfast politician who played a key role beyond party lines.”
High-Profile Leaders Mourn Jirongo
Matiang’i’s visit follows several high-profile condolences at Jirongo’s Gigiri residence. President William Ruto visited the family on December 18, describing Jirongo as a “relentless go-getter.”
Other visitors have included former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, and various opposition leaders.
While Matiang’i has kept the details of his visit private, sources close to the family indicate he joined a group of “United Opposition” leaders in offering personal support as funeral preparations intensify.
Naivasha Tragedy: Unanswered Questions
Cyrus Jirongo, aged 64, died in the early hours of December 13, 2025, following a head-on collision at the Karai area in Naivasha along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.
A postmortem conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor confirmed that Jirongo succumbed to severe blunt force trauma to the chest and abdomen.
However, the circumstances of the accident remain a subject of intense investigation. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is currently reviewing CCTV footage which shows Jirongo’s Mercedes-Benz entering a petrol station at 2:18 a.m. and attempting to rejoin the highway moments before being rammed by a Climax Company bus.
The family has raised concerns over discrepancies in his route, noting that he was expected to head to his home in Gigiri from Karen, making his presence in Naivasha at 3:00 a.m. a mystery.
Final Send-Off Details
The funeral committee, led by former Westlands MP Fred Gumo and co-chaired by George Khaniri, has released the official itinerary for Jirongo’s final journey:
- December 27: The body will lie in state at his Gigiri residence for public viewing.
- December 28: A funeral service and vigil will be held at his Kitale home.
- December 29: The body will be transferred to his rural home in Lumakanda, Kakamega County.
- December 30: Final burial ceremony next to his parents’ graves.
Jirongo is survived by three widows Ann Lanoi, Christine Nyokabi, and Anne Kanini—and 38 children. He is remembered as a titan of the YK ’92 movement and a significant figure in the Moi-era cabinet.
